Martin Short on Kathie Lee Gifford: "People Make Mistakes"

The actor, 62, says he understands that Today show host Kathie Lee Gifford didn't intend to offend during his Wednesday appearance on the show with her questions about his wife, Nancy Dolman--who passed away in 2010 from ovarian cancer.

"You and Nancy have one of the greatest marriages of anybody in show business," Gifford said. "How many years for you guys now?"

"We . . . married 36 years," Short replied.

"But you're still in love!" the host exclaimed. "Madly in love," he answered. "Madly in love."

During a commercial break, Gifford learned of her cringe-worthy gaffe and apologized on-air. "Martin just told me as he was leaving, he said, 'Kathie, you probably didn't know,' but his beautiful, precious wife Nancy did pass away a year and a half ago . . . I feel so badly," the remorseful Gifford told viewers.